Malvern Prep tops Haverford to win Independent baseball title

Ted Silary, Daily News Staff Writer
Posted: May 30, 2012

THE LAST WIN assuredly was not the easiest.

Sunday at the Haverford School, in the championship game of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Baseball Tournament, Malvern Prep needed to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the last three innings to defeat the Fords, 3-2, and complete a 31-5 season.

In the fifth inning, catcher Billy "Moose" Ford created a 2-2 tie by following Mike DeMatteis’ single with a two-run homer to dead centerfield. In the sixth, Joe Poduslenko singled, Matt Greskoff walked, Drew Hayes bunted both guys over, Nick Bateman grounded out as the runners held, Joe Ravert was issued an intentional walk and Stephen Robinson sent an RBI single to right.

Gardner Nutter (five innings) and winner John Durkee did the pitching.

For HS, Steve Fitzgerald launched a solo homer to left-center in the second and Pat Valentine got home a fourth-inning run on a fielder’s choice.

While speaking afterward with his players, Malvern coach Freddy Hilliard told them, "I knew we’d be good this year because we had a lot coming back. I didn’t know if we’d be this good."

The Friars were perfect (10-0) in the Inter-Ac for the first time in 63 years of membership. They finished the season on a 12-win run and their only local loss was to Cardinal O’Hara, of the Catholic League.

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